First Down (First and Ten #1)

by Lea Hart

  “Should we eat in here or do you want to go in and start watching the games that I recorded?”

  Ella and Ronnie answered in unison, “Eat first.”

  Ana started loading up the table with the food that she prepared.

  Ella studied the table and took inventory of what Ana had prepared. “This isn’t bad for a first effort with football food. I’ll have Mama send some of her recipes that she uses every Sunday. You definitely need a cheese ball and crackers. It’s hardly appropriate to watch a football game without a cheese ball.”

  “As much as I respect your genetic superiority when it comes to anything football, I’m going to have to say no to the cheese ball. I am, however, totally open to the idea of a good pimiento cheese sandwich.”

  “Oooh, I love pimiento cheese sandwiches. Nobody makes a better one than Mama. I’ll have Gerald make us some for our next football get together,” Ronnie said.

  “Fine, no cheese ball. How about chili? You have to have some chili.”

  “I think chili is a great idea. I’ll try that next time. By the way, Ella…where is your jersey with Clark’s name across the back?”

  “In a box in my dining room. He sent me a lot of stuff, and I haven’t worn anything yet. I understand the meaning of wearing someone’s jersey, and it’s not something to take lightly. I haven’t done it since my junior year in high school.”

  They all sat and started filling their plates.

  Ana refilled their glasses. “So what is it with you and Clark?”

  Letting out a big sigh, Ella placed her head on the table and looked at her friends. “I have no idea. I tell you that man is so frustrating. He’s not acting at all like he should, and it’s really starting to bug me.”

  Ronnie patted Ella’s back and spoke. “He’s acting exactly like who he is. He’s a middle linebacker, and he’s been known to eat small animals and children to accomplish his goal. He runs the defensive line and makes sure everyone knows where to be. He’s also mean as hell and not afraid to go after anyone who gets in his way.”

  “I know all of that, Ronnie. I’m talking about his desire to have a relationship. He makes me go on dates and hang out in order to have relations. Why does he have to be this way?”

  Ana and Ronnie stared at their friend in confusion. Ella had always wanted a commitment before. Why had things changed so drastically? “What’s with the new attitude about men and specifically Clark?” Ronnie asked.

  “I’m not interested in having a football player as my life partner. Nothing about what we want in our lives is similar. Neither of us is going to end up very happy. And, yes, he’s heading in that direction. I should just stop seeing him now and be done with it.”

  “If you really are not interested, then you need to let him go. You wouldn’t want someone to do that if the situation was reversed.” Ronnie stated.

  “I know. I’m just not ready yet.” She watched both her friends give her big smiles. “Shut up.”

  They all started laughing at once. Sometimes, it was difficult to have someone show up in your life who was utterly perfect and yet not part of your plan.

  ********

  They were halfway through the second game, and Ana knew she was starting to get a feel for the game. She must have absorbed some knowledge over the years, because she picked it up quickly. What surprised her was how ferocious and aggressive Jack was on the field. She’d never seen that part of him, and she couldn’t decide if it was wrong by how turned on she was. He was a beast of a man, and yet with her, he was completely gentle. “I had no idea that Jack was so forceful.” They were showing a close-up of his face on the field, and he was scary as hell.

  Ronnie sat with her computer on her lap and glanced up at the screen. “That’s not even his worst look. You should see him when he’s really pissed. They won this one, and no one got past him during the whole game.” She returned her attention to what she was working on.

  “Is that why you didn’t want him to go after me?” Ana asked.

  “No. I just wanted his intentions to be serious. I didn’t want him to hurt your feelings or break anything.”

  “Because of who he is or because of what Brian did to you?”

  “It was a little bit about what happened to me, but it was also the women that he used to date. I wanted him to completely understand that you were not to be taken lightly.” Ronnie added.

  Ana pulled the bowl of popcorn into her lap and started eating. “So are you going to tell me what kind of women he usually dates?”

  Ronnie closed her computer and regarded her friend. “He dated a lot of women who were not your intellectual or emotional equal. They were interested in a good time, and that was about it. And I suppose that he was as well.”

  Ella took the bowl of popcorn out of Ana’s lap and started eating. “I tell you, we are not the type of women who should be swimming in this pool. This is not our natural habitat, and when that’s the case, things don’t turn out well.”

  “Ok, Susie sunshine. You can stop now.” Ronnie smirked. “Jack seems to be behaving well and has serious intentions toward Ana. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt.”

  Ana grabbed the bowl of M&Ms and started shoving them into her mouth. “When we were out the other night at Joes, some women in the bathroom were talking trash about me. They didn’t know I was in the stall, so I had the pleasure of hearing everything they thought. Let me tell you it wasn’t pretty, and it’s not something that I ever want to hear again.”

  “Did you tell Jack about it?” Ella asked as she took a handful of M&Ms and put them in the popcorn bowl.

  “No. I didn’t want to let him know that it bothered me. Anyway, I was soon trampled by his fans and being taken to the ER in an ambulance.”

  “That really was the date from hell.” Ronnie laughed.

  “We haven’t attempted another one yet. Which is fine with me.”

  They all watched the game for a while without comment. It had been a great game for Jack, Clark, and Justin. It was fun to see them do so well. “Do you mind watching Brian in the game?” Ella asked.

  “Not really. I think that I’ve let it all go. I need to move forward in my life. Maybe I was more embarrassed than hurt when it happened. All my feelings were so mixed up that I couldn’t tell one from the other.”

  “I thought you were falling for him,” Ana said.

  “I think I was. But, it was probably infatuation, and nothing more. He did me a favor by screwing up so badly. There was no coming back from what he did, and I had no choice. As mad as I was, it was a blessing. He did it sooner as opposed to later and saved me from a real heartbreak. I think it was his nature to be distracted. His head was probably always going to spin toward the next shiny thing. So in retrospect, I’m glad he did it before I had a chance to fall completely.”

  “I’m so happy, Ronnie. I know this has eaten at you for the last year, and I think letting it go is a sign that something fabulous is coming your way,” Ana said as she patted Ronnie’s leg.

  “Like I said, it was probably my ego in pain more than my heart. He humiliated me in front of a lot of people. But in the end, it says more about him than it does about me. I don’t think any of my clients care that I made an unfortunate dating decision.”

  Ella and Ana smiled at Ronnie and turned back to the game. Ana noticed Jack’s intense expression and realized that she’d seen a similar look when he was kissing her. It seemed that Jack Ellis was as serious about her as he was about his career. She couldn’t square the man on the field and the man in her bedroom. He was a gentle giant with her, and on the field, he was a ferocious warrior.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by Ronnie’s announcement. “What did you say?”

  “I said that I’m going on a date tonight, and I should get going.” She watched both her friends put down their snacks and sit up at full attention. “I have a date tonight with a gentleman that can’t seem to take no for an answer. I’ve decided to have a meal with him, so h
e’ll leave me be.”

  “Details,” Ana demanded.

  “Fine. The head coach for the Jacksonville Gators has been buzzing around for a while. We’ve spoken a couple of times, because several of his players are my clients. He had some questions about the budgets that I set for them. We had some rather loud discussions, and once we came to an agreement, he asked me out. I’ve refused him a hundred times, and he finally wore me down. He’s coming down tonight and taking me to dinner. He’s a northerner, and I don’t have much hope, but it should be entertaining. Gerald is very excited about this, and you know I would do just about anything for him. So I’m going on this date, and I’m going to be charming and not tell him off.”

  The girls clapped their hands in excitement. “Praise God. A real date for Ronnie,” Ella sang.

  They got up and started clearing the dishes. “We expect all the details tomorrow at Alex’s house. He’s finally back from his vacation, and he’s expecting us,” Ana informed them.

  “Where did he go after they lost their spot in the Series?” Ella asked.

  “He went to Mexico with a bunch of guys, and they drowned their sorrows in beer and fishing. He wants us to come over around four for a bar-b-que and swimming,” Ronnie said.

  “We can all catch up tomorrow. I hope Jordan dropped that snotty tennis player; she was kind-of a pill,” Ana said. She heard her phone buzz and saw Jack’s face. “I have to get this. Leave the dishes, and I’ll take care of everything later.” She heard kissing noises from them as she walked into her office to speak with Jack. “Hi, honey.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Sunday

  Ana sat in bed, stared at her iPad, and tried to read the Google alert that she received. This was too much for eight in the morning. She decided to get up and make coffee. It was probably better to be fully caffeinated before she attempted to understand what was all over the news. She hoped like hell that what the woman was saying wasn’t true. Pulling on a pair of shorts, she made her way into the kitchen and started the coffee pot. What this morning needed was donuts, preferably chocolate ones. She was about to sit at the kitchen table with her coffee when she heard the doorbell. She wasn’t expecting anyone and didn’t think someone would arrive unannounced on a Sunday morning. Hopefully, it wasn’t reporters coming to ask her if her boyfriend had a child with the woman in the news. She specifically remembered asking him about this, and he flat-out denied it.

  She peeked through the glass and couldn’t have been happier with the sight that greeted her. Opening her door, she greeted Jordan with a huge smile. She grabbed the box of donuts out of his hand before giving him a big hug. “This is why we’re best friends.”

  Jordan walked in and took a moment to study his friend. “You’ve seen what’s out there…right?”

  “Yes. I woke up to the Google alert this morning. I just scanned it and decided that I needed coffee to deal with it.”

  “Caffeine and sugar—the answers to most questions in life. Let’s go get ourselves medicated before we deal with this.”

  “Agreed.” They walked into the kitchen, and Ana poured Jordan a big cup of coffee and got out plates for donuts. “After we crash from the coffee and sugar, I’ll make us omelets.” They sat, faced one another, drank their coffee, and ate their first donut in silence. They had done this since they were eighteen. They were kindred spirits and understood that talking wasn’t necessary when eating a donut. “Did you get rid of that snotty tennis player?”

  “I like how you deflect and ignore the elephant on the internet.”

  “I’m warming up to it. I feel like a second donut is going to be necessary before I can deal with what I think is out there.”

  “To answer your question…yes. Sasha and I are no longer seeing one another. Unfortunately, her personality was a bit much to overcome.”

  “Why do you always go after the snotty girl?”

  “That’s not true. And in my defense, I don’t know that they’re snotty when I first start dating them. They usually save that until after we’ve slept together. I swear to you, someday, I’m going to wake up and discover that the woman that I slept with is a nice person.”

  Ana patted his arm and grabbed another donut out of the box. After blowing a little powdered sugar on him, she responded. “I think you are the best sort of person, Jordan, and you deserve someone as amazing as you are.”

  “Thanks, Ana Banana. Now that we’re done analyzing my dating life, should we take a look at yours and see what this woman is really saying?”

  “It’s your basic nightmare. Big busty blond claiming that Jack fathered her child and abandoned them. Isn’t this what every girl deals with?” She got up, refilled their coffee cups, and contemplated a third donut. No! This woman was not going to make her stress-eat her way into the next size. She shoved her iPad at Jordan and closed her eyes. “You look and tell me how bad it is.”

  “I already read everything. Why do you think I showed up at your door with a dozen donuts?”

  “My God. Is this a twelve-donut problem?”

  “I’m not sure. But I wanted to be safe. We have to talk to Ronnie and get some facts before we go off the deep end and start thinking the worst.”

  “We can’t call her yet, because she went on that date last night with the head coach from Jacksonville.”

  “She went on an actual date? One with a man?”

  “Yes and yes. She has released the nonsense with Brian, and she’s ready to move on. Apparently, this man has been pursuing her, and she decided to give in and go out to dinner. Gerald is very happy, and that was part of the motivation for her going out. Anyway, we can’t call her yet.”

  “Do you think that Jack has seen any of this?”

  “I have no idea. His game is at ten in Massachusetts. I’m guessing that he hasn’t, and it’s better that way. He doesn’t need to be dealing with this when he is about to go out and play.”

  “Said like a real football girlfriend. I never thought I would live to see the day when you fell for a football player.”

  “I know. I hardly believe it myself. But if any of this nonsense is true, then I’m going to un-fall very quickly. I’m not the sort of woman who can get over something like this. I know my limitations, and this is one of them.” She considered another donut and then stopped. “I’m not worried about a child, but I am concerned if Jack is the type of man not live up to his responsibilities. I don’t think he is, but what if I’m wrong?”

  “I don’t think you’re wrong about him. But I don’t see you becoming a stepmother to that woman’s child. From what I’ve read, she’s as crazy as a mad-hatter. No one needs that in their life.”

  “I asked him about this sort of thing, and he denied that he had any children out there.” She stared at Jordan and waited for him to give his opinion about the whole thing. He always had one, and she hoped that it would be helpful. “Let me have it, Jordan. I know you have something to share with the class.”

  “I want you to be happy, and if this man can do that, then I’m all for it. He has a big life, and he’s a public figure, so that will always present certain challenges. If you think that he’s a good guy, then you’re going to have to give him the benefit of the doubt. Let’s just hope that there are not more incidents like this.”

  Getting up, she went to the fridge and started pulling out ingredients for their omelets. She was pretty sure that Jack was as good as he seemed. But what if she was wrong…again? What if he was a player? Her mind went around and around, and she knew she needed to let it go. Better to wait to speak in person with Jack. Nothing could be done before that. “Do you want bacon and hash browns as well?”

  “Why do you always ask me that when you know the answer? Those are two of my favorite foods.”

  “I like to pretend that I’m giving you a choice.” She started putting the ingredients together and smiled over at her friend. “Thanks, Jordan.”

  He looked at Ana and returned her smile. “No thanks necessary. Y
ou would do the same thing for me. By the way, I need some new clothes for the conference next month. Let me know when you can go.”

  “Let’s figure out a day next week. I’ve wanted to go to the Village at Merrick Park. I think they have the stores we like. Plus, there are a couple of restaurants that we should try.”

  “Sounds good to me. I’ll buy you a steak and martini after we’re done.”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  *******

  Jack stood in the locker room after one of his best games and felt his happiness leak away. He had managed a touchdown during the game, and he knew how rare it was to be able to accomplish it

  The reporters were not talking about that. Instead, they were asking about the woman who claimed that he’d fathered her child.

  He thought they might’ve gone out on a couple of dates last year, but he sure as hell never slept with her. The only person that he had relations without protection with--was Ana, but that was different. They were going to be married, so it made sense that they didn’t need it. He barely got in the locker room before he was surrounded by the media. At first, he’d thought they wanted to talk about the touchdown, but that wasn’t the case.

  What pissed him off more than anything was that he hadn’t spoken to Ana yet. He was worried that she was going to believe the woman, and he wouldn’t be able to change her mind. She wasn’t that excited about dating a professional athlete, and this sort of bullshit cemented her worst fears. He knew he had to deal with the media, but speaking to Ana was more important. He looked down at his phone and saw a text from her. Someone had taken a picture of her jumping up and down in front of a TV. She was wearing his jersey and appeared to be really happy. He read the text. “Ronnie got a picture of me losing my mind when you made the touchdown. Ella explained how rare it was, and I couldn’t be prouder. Stay strong, and I’ll see you when you get home. Xoxo”

  Letting out a breath, he felt the emotion well up in his chest. This was the best news in the world. It seemed like she trusted him for now and wasn’t going to drop him before the day ended. He finally tuned into what one of the reporters was asking.